The School of Oriental and African Studies

Reviews

Anonymous

the campus is alright, not great. admin is terrible, lecturers severely underpaid, contact time is barely anything and it's facilities need an upgrade. i like soas for its students and its politics but the establishment itself is awful

Anonymous

Love it. It is an amazing u iversity with great people. I did not intend to come here but im glad i did. It is not as bad as everyone makes it seem

Anonymous

There’s always a fun event on no matter when in the term it is. The SU has a brilliant atmosphere and even strangers seem to become friends quickly and get along. The MA courses could do with more support from an organisational point.

Anonymous

When you tell people you study at SOAS most respond with, "Where?" or "What's that?" and whilst it may appear small and insignificant it's been one of my most valued experiences. The campus is small and so are the numbers so there's a real sense of community amongst fellow students. The university provides a global experience for all students and promotes inclusivity for everyone. SOAS prides itself on it's diversity and the lessons that can be learned from this are unmatched. My course, though ordinarily Eurocentric, enabled me to study areas across Asia and Africa that's broadened my understanding of the world we live in. Whilst I have very few complaints about the university and what it has to offer, don't expect the typical university experience with parties in central London nightclubs but far more intimate events - the drag show cabaret being a favourite.

Anonymous

All lecturers are very interesting. The campus is very politicised and the union very active. It is such an international place. You can learn many languages. There are excellent public lectures. Buzzy part of London.

Anonymous

The campus is actually quite nice. It's diverse, which is good for an international student. The people are more or less friendly and make you feel welcomed. The library is absolutely amazing. The professors are actually very helpful in sorting out any issues that you may have.

Anonymous

My second home!! Whilst I was visiting various Universities, I knew I wanted to study somewhere which would help me develop academically and personally. They have many facilities to help you academically, aswell well student advice and well being to help with your mental health, careers services to guide you through your journey and many societies to get involved with. It is such an inclusive, open-minded and unique university - I definitely found the best place to prepare me for he future.

Anonymous

The university offers a unique experience. as I am studying my masters I have already done my undergrad degree else where. But SOAS is a small intimate location with a firey sense of identity, people want change and students will fight for it. It's beautiful to be in a place where you believe change will happen.

Anonymous

I was completely unsure about attending SOAS university of London to study BA history but it's one of the greatest decisions I've made. The location is ideal in central London, and the uni organises events that allow you to explore the city.

Anonymous

The campus is quite small compared to other universities in the UK but that doesn't that you miss out on stuff, SOAS is home to one of the largest research libraries in the UK. It is also close by to Oxford street and the shopping district. Alongside this you are surrounded by many other university campuses, giving a really studenty vibe. The student union is very pro-active and aim to have the students needs at the forefront of any discussions/meetings they have with the upper management. If you get stuck in with all the things going on on campus you will defo feel like this is your family away from home. The careers service are amazing, firstly because SOAS is a part of the university of London, you get access to a large scope of jobs and services and a vast network that will always be able to help you. Second the careers service are always holding drop-in sessions and classes to help with CVs, interviews also assessments, so that you have the best chance at getting the job.

Anonymous

The atmosphere of the university is very relaxing and encouraging in a way to build an an academic and social life. The courses are interesting. The way of constructing the classes into lectures and tutorials is interesting and giving students the space to go in depth into several topics. The location of the university gives an extra credit for the university as everything is very close to it starting from libraries, bookshops, to restaurants. The diversity at soas also makes it a wonderful and rich place to study at.

Anonymous

Studying law at SOAS is definitely different from all other Universities. This is because due to the diversity within SOAS, the LLB programme offers you optional modules focusing on Africa and Asia, rather than purely on the U.K. This is especially great for international students who would like to go back to their countries to practice in there. But it is also great for English students who broaden their horizons to learn more about different legal systems.

Anonymous

Very chilled and relaxed vibe for students which helps in exam time but in terms of admin, SOAS is very disorganised. They also slashed the Africa department which is really annoying if you wish to study multiple African modules.

Anonymous

The university is in the perfect location with access to the tube and also very easy to find with many amenities (shops) nearby. The careers services are somewhat lacking, failing to offer advice in general. The organisation can also be contested with regards to the structure of lectures which are at times inadequate. The course module options are however very extensive and interesting.

Anonymous

SOAS is a vibrant and diverse university with a relatively small student body. The courses focus on parts of the world often ignored by other university courses - Asia, Africa and the Middle East. The students are politically active, interested in decolonial thought and social justice. It is a fantastic university for experiencing other cultures, and there are frequent music, poetry, art and film events showcasing the work of nonwestern artists, as well as food and drink from around the world.

Anonymous

It’s okay. Though it could be improved through more accessible facilities for disabled students as well as better organisation

Anonymous

The campus is not the biggest but it has everything essential. My favorite part would be the library which has a lot of good collections related to the course I am studying which is one of the reasons why it is always busy and creates a heavy learning environment.

Anonymous

Went to SOAS for my postgrad. It's located in central London and allowed me to choose a huge range of courses within my degree.

Anonymous

The options of courses were very unique and the lecturers were clearly experts in their fields. But the admin processes were so long and unsupportive.

Anonymous

SOAS is a great university to experience a world of diverse people from all walks of life. There is much to learn, it is whole package of knowledge as well as culture. The administration is a little unorganized and haphazard.

Anonymous

The university has great and interesting courses and the teaching is fantastic as well. The campus it’s not very big but it’s situated at the very Center of London so it’s very convenient. Student union is very active and there are always nice events that one can attend. Having said that, the administration is not of the best, it actually lacks a bit and so are the facilities which could be improved.

Anonymous

Overall, a very good school. The library has incredible resources, school lunches in the refectory and senate building are delicious. Definitely recommend the drinks from Kape and Pan in the senate building. Administration is kind of slow sometimes, but that’s to be expected. Plenty of places to do work throughout the campus. Small campus but puts on plenty of events throughout the year!

Anonymous

The university has a great ethos, people who work or study there genuinely want to change the world. The campus is small and the food and coffee is overpriced, but there's a fair amount of study space. The careers service is very active, we get multiple emails a week about support or opportunities. I love studying among so many different people, diversity is celebrated and I feel I am a better person, and student, because of it.

Anonymous

Extraordinary school with a variety of interesting courses. However, the school (or students) have a certain policy that may not be for everyone. But you can experience interesting events, lectures and talks.

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